CASPER
New member
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)—It was a minor deal that sent Trevor Ariza(notes) from Orlando to Los Angeles in 2007.
It’s now a major reason the NBA finals have swung back in the Lakers’ favor.
Ariza rejuvenated a team that was lifeless in the first half with 13 points in the third quarter, then hit a tying 3-pointer with 2:37 left in regulation as the Lakers rallied to beat the Magic 99-91 in overtime Thursday night and move a win away from a 15th championship.
“He just made big plays,” Kobe Bryant(notes) said of Ariza. “He kept the floor spaced and knocked down shots.”
Ariza was scoreless in the first half, continuing a disappointing finals on the offensive end. Then he nearly outscored the Magic by himself over the next 12 minutes as the Lakers surged into the lead.
“In the third quarter I just tried to come out and be aggressive,” Ariza said. “When I’m aggressive early, it kind of gets our team going. Anything I can do to help my team win, that’s what I’m going to try to do.”
It’s now a major reason the NBA finals have swung back in the Lakers’ favor.
Ariza rejuvenated a team that was lifeless in the first half with 13 points in the third quarter, then hit a tying 3-pointer with 2:37 left in regulation as the Lakers rallied to beat the Magic 99-91 in overtime Thursday night and move a win away from a 15th championship.
“He just made big plays,” Kobe Bryant(notes) said of Ariza. “He kept the floor spaced and knocked down shots.”
Ariza was scoreless in the first half, continuing a disappointing finals on the offensive end. Then he nearly outscored the Magic by himself over the next 12 minutes as the Lakers surged into the lead.
“In the third quarter I just tried to come out and be aggressive,” Ariza said. “When I’m aggressive early, it kind of gets our team going. Anything I can do to help my team win, that’s what I’m going to try to do.”